Arable producers reverting to a mixed farming

[l'ordinary bonville]

Excuse me asking but can explain a bit more about the indoor pig enterprise.If it has already been explained on another thread please can someone direct me to the thread.Many thanks

Just over 1000 sows indoors
All growing pigs on fully slatted modern systems.
Eats our grain and produces lots of FYM to spread on stubbles and slurry applied to growing crops in the spring or stubbles before and after rape

 

[Pilatus]

Just over 1000 sows indoors
All growing pigs on fully slatted modern systems.
Eats our grain and produces lots of FYM to spread on stubbles and slurry applied to growing crops in the spring or stubbles before and after rape

Your reply has prompted me to ask a question I have always wanted to ask, “why are there historically so many intensive pig and broiler chicken enterprises in the Eastern Counties side of the UK”, compared to the more western counties of the uk.
I have always wondered why years ago Cotswold Hill,Dorset Down, etc etc farmers did not seem to create large pig and poultry enterprises so that the manure from those enterprises could be used to improve their poor soils, which would be a lot less fertile than many of those soils of the Eastern Counties of the UK.
Any replies much appreciated.

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

That's where the cereals were grown years ago

That's where the abattoirs and feed mills were built years ago. I think their location has swayed more farmers to get in over the years

Planning authorities are used to large pig farms in the traditional pig areas. Can't see a 1000 sow indoor unit getting planning in the Cotswolds now

More recently pigs could be anywhere, especially outdoor produced but reared indoors

Outdoor sows tend to be where it rains less and soil is free draining

Don't know whether that makes a difference

There is less good shooting round me so I've found something else to do in the winter

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

Your reply has prompted me to ask a question I have always wanted to ask, “why are there historically so many intensive pig and broiler chicken enterprises in the Eastern Counties side of the UK”, compared to the more western counties of the uk.
I have always wondered why years ago Cotswold Hill,Dorset Down, etc etc farmers did not seem to create large pig and poultry enterprises so that the manure from those enterprises could be used to improve their poor soils, which would be a lot less fertile than many of those soils of the Eastern Counties of the UK.
Any replies much appreciated.

You haven’t been to Herefordshire if you think majority of broilers are in the east

 

[Spud]

We've had 1200 pigs on b&b here for 28yrs, and it's worked well - to the point that space has now become available to put up a shed for another 800. It's not market or weather related, doesn't take up much time, turns straw into muck, and turns a small profit - what's not to like?
Through fym, a change in rotation, cover crops and a slightly tweaked approach, yields (and margins) are slowly improving.
In theory, with some small areas of grass, cover crops and beet, sheep would work here. If it was reliant on my stockman skills, it'd be a disaster - a JV would seem a better fit.

 

[ollie989898]

Your reply has prompted me to ask a question I have always wanted to ask, “why are there historically so many intensive pig and broiler chicken enterprises in the Eastern Counties side of the UK”, compared to the more western counties of the uk.
I have always wondered why years ago Cotswold Hill,Dorset Down, etc etc farmers did not seem to create large pig and poultry enterprises so that the manure from those enterprises could be used to improve their poor soils, which would be a lot less fertile than many of those soils of the Eastern Counties of the UK.
Any replies much appreciated.

There were a fair few pig and poultry and even intensive beef across the regions tou mention. Lots of the bigger arable estates kept a shed of beef but lots have gone now. When I was very young Salisbury plain would be littered with outdoor pig setups.